I’m glad this worked for you, Mike! I didn’t connect with this book though I can recognize some things Lee did very well, mostly in the second half. I absolutely love The Godfather I and II movies, which I now want to rewatch, and I’ve heard great things about The Godfather book as well! 👍
I thought you would love this. It was a home run for me. The 2nd book is too. I'm waiting a little bit to read the last one just because I don't want it to end. My only small gripe is that the countries and history is clearly just renames of real countries and events. I wish she would have just used the real names.
I read this on vacation and it was such a perfect beach read. Dude. I am almost done with Swan Song. Holy hell do I love it. I am so excited to read Boy’s Life. His writing is excellent. My 11 year old is getting into fantasy and has been reading Wings of Fire and Warrior Cars. Your boys might like them. My older son legit skipped tablet time to read Wings!
Really enjoying this review! I'm also glad that you got to try some urban fantasy that was written by a female author-- there's a large stereotype, both within book marketing and reinforced on the internet, that all urban fantasy = paranormal romance if there's a woman's name in the byline. That's just genuinely not true -- paranormal romance and urban fantasy are different genres, just like romance and fantasy are. Since I started following booktube I've seen time and time again that a lot of masculine readers on discords and reddit won't touch urban fantasy except Dresden, and then treat Dresden as if it's the exception instead of just one of dozens of examples of urban fantasy mystery-of-the-week series that all dip into the same general tropes. If you want to understand more about Urban Fantasy, the biggest analogous genre is mystery, which is why so many protagonists are spins off the P. I. archetype. Jade City being more of a crime story is actually an exception, in that regard. Dresden is quite typical of the genre: an individual with magical/super skillset exists in a society that is either openly supernatural or secretly hiding amongst the muggles. Faeries, Vampires, Werewolves, Demons, Dragons, Witches Mages--those are all the big 'races' people usually write about. (with culturally specific flourishes, cryptids, and myths as well). The two biggest influences on the last 25 years of Urban Fantasy publishing can be boiled down to two titles: "The X Files" and "Buffy The Vampire Slayer". Those might be tv shows but they are THE defining influences on the modern genre, spoken by the best selling writers in UF. Like popular detective series, Urban Fantasy books tend to be long-running and formulaic: 10, 15, even 20 books is common. This is not WoT epics, these are more like a police procedural show, but maybe with an underlying story that builds with each book. Some good Urban Fantasy series you should look into: October Daye series by Seanan McGuire Heartstrikers series by Rachel Aaron Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronnovich Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison Harry Potter #3-7, by JK Rowling But do me a favor, not just Mike but anyone who comes across this comment: don't just jump to the ones with men's names. It's a big wide world out there, full of magic. Grab your leather jacket, and let's go!
I never care about an authors race or gender. I’m strictly a genre reader and Urban Fantasy was just never high on my interests. I just read Dresden Files 2 years ago after much urging from readers. So I can assure you very little, personally, has went into these decisions except that I’m more of an epic fantasy guy.
Wasn’t always “fantasy” enough for me, but they were very well written, EXTREMELY emotional reads with interesting character development and big moments. Too slow in my opinion, but still a hell of a trilogy. You’re gonna love War and Legacy.
Hey Mike! Thanks for mentioning that there's lots of sex and cursing in it. That's the kind of thing that's a deal breaker for me. Most others don't care about that thing though so the reviews never mention that kind of thing. Would love to see you mention this kind of thing in your future videos!
Fonda Lee said she took a bit of a sci-fi approach to the magic system, where magic is also an economic resource. It’s a hard magic system apparently, but she took a very soft approach to it, in fact it’s like she has a Sanderson style magic system in her notes but deliberately keeps it to the background and very little explained, while Sanderson makes it a central feature in his books. Definitely urban Fantasy, and one that pushes boundaries a little, and showing again that you interweave any genre and type of story in a secondary world/Fantasy setting. It’s also definitely a lover letter to all the mafia, triad, yakuza and Hong Kong martial arts movies Lee grew up on. As an Asian Canadian she also managed to avoid pretty much all the clichés - her Asian inspired secondary world is a whole lot better done than some I’ve read before. I’m excited to pick up Jade War in a few days. It would make a fantastic series. It’s in development with Breck Eisner, who was the best director they had on The Expanse.
I was so worried I wouldn't enjoy Jade City until about halfway through the book when it hit me out of nowhere with a twist! I hope you enjoy the rest of the series!
This book is masterfully crafted and is not "slow" whatsoever. I honestly don't know what happened in the last decade where people began calling anything that doesn’t have a YA or middle-grade pace to it, slow. It's not only blatantly incorrect, but in most cases it borderlines in absurdity. I've gotten into several debates on reddit where readers were calling many different, adult, books slow and then comparing them to Harry Potter (written at a 3rd grade level) in their argument. The lack of rational thought, and reasoning, in their claims is out of hand. Especially since some of the series they are claiming to be slow are anything but. Series like Mistborn, The Green Bone Saga, and The Lord of the Rings.
I just finished jade Legacy last week. Already one of my favorite series. I developed such an emotional bond to the Kabul siblings across the three books that will leave quite the mark. Hope you enjoy this series as much as I do. Also super excited that an adaptation is coming to Peacock
Hey Mike! So glad you got to this series and enjoyed the first book! I read the first two about a year and a half ago and was hooked, and after reading the third, it's become one of my favourite series of all time, regardless of genre. Hope you enjoy the other two even more! Also, I looked it up and turns out this was her third published book, but her first adult fantasy one
I liked this book. No doubt. Didn't love it. Jade War blew me away. And Jade Legacy, well, it's one of only 10 books that I've classified as Masterpieces in my Kindle categories.
I thought about this book for days, and I finished the series recently and thought about it for months. The action scenes in book one definitely felt more standard fantasy action, but in book two and three they can get super tense and very creative, out of ten or twenty action scenes I can only think of one standard duel, and that one's great. Really really love this series
Everything that's good about Jade City is done *even better* in Jade War. It's as much a step up in everything as The Empire Strikes Back was from Star Wars. Fortunately, Jade Legacy continues the upward trajectory .. but there's only so much better a book can get, and Jade War is just that good.
the clan is our blood and the pillar its master! I got you Mike, I won't recommend something to someone based on what I like, but what I think you will. Also for what it's worth I think I wish Jade Legacy was longer. There is a universe where we got a 400k word Jade Legacy, and in that world I probably like that book even more. But also I'm a huge Wheel of Time, Hobb, and Stormlight fan. So I have a different bar for how long I think books should be.
My favourite part was the culture and economics behind jade The aisho looks like sth japanesey but also all their customs make sense Really makes it feel.... Unique. It makes it feel like its not a total hong kong copy Also the positions in the clan (horn. Pillar. Etc) i found extremely cool Hilo was always my fave. Everyone keeps saying hilo is a hothead but it makes it seem that's the only thing he has. He only kinda hotheaded imo. He is not just.. Uk... The muscle. Surprisingly empathatic and rly charismatic. I related on the how female modern fantady aint for me either lmao I just find shaes(and similar chars) archetype a little annoying. (i like her char more as story goes on). I grew up with elder sisters too and grew sick of their "oh im a rebel now im gonna do the opposite of what fam expects" years. That ruined my taste for these chars lmao. I just felt bad for fams that have rly big responsibilites but their children just wont shut up and stop testing everyones patience and get to work. Spoiler warnin for book 1 Lans story broke my heart. Dude lived miserably his whole life. I wish he got some better luck. Another fave part is how hilo fits in his new role asw
Hilo is probably my second favorite character so far. So calling him a hothead is certainly not an insult on my end. I am curious as to what type of leader and wartime Pillar he will be.
Great review Mike! I really enjoyed this book, I loved the characters, I was suprised by the big death and I didn't expect the twist at the end. I'm eager to pick up the next one
The author could have had so much great inspiration ( Godfather, Last Don, Once upon a time in America, Infernal affairs, The Untouchables, Shield and Wire.....and so much much more. Like literally there s tons of inspiration) and she managed to write something quite slow and mediocre. No idea why the book is that praised. No Fantasy feel for me neither, but guess its better for marketing purposes.
It was on my TBR for over a year before I started reading it, but Of Shadow and Sea(Book 1) and Of Sea and Shadow (book 2) is an AMAZING dualogy series you might like. It's heavily character driven. I checked it out and was super skeptical, almost to the point that I skipped the Sea series and just read the Shadow side of events. Turns out it's extremely worth it. Anyways if you look it up and it seems interesting, even in a few years, it's a NICE change of pace to hear both side of a story and find out that they're seperate stories in the same story.
Great review Mike! Been a fan of the channel for sometime. I haven’t read Jade Legacy yet, but I also enjoyed Jade War so i think you will to. Its hard to choose a favorite character. I am curious to see how they wrap up the series
This sounds like it might be up my alley. I personally disliked Mistborn's magic system so i like that this has a simpler system. I have had the hardcover on my shelf/tbr but you're the first review that made it sound more appealing.
You lost me at 9:25. I'm throwing tomatoes. What made you think this was "gender-specific" in the first place? It's not marketed that way (no young woman on the cover, or "flowery" imagery, if that's what you mean). Is it because the author is a woman? Bcuz it sounds to me like you're surprised a woman wrote a gritty, violent, and graphic book. And then saying that women write sex scenes better. As if men are better at characters and complex stories (why bring up Malazan?) and women only do sex scenes better. Cringe.
I had a feeling someone would take this comment that way. But I can assure you it is none of the reasons you're listing here. I did just read Anna Stephens after all. The assumption was based off of most of the people recommending it to me were readers who adore Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, and RF Kuang. I'm not quite the Neanderthal it sounds like you are believing I am. The Malazan comment was exclusively about the worldbuilding, which is the most complex I've ever seen. Again, I think you're going to great lengths to be accusatory and I know you've been a viewer for awhile and I don't believe I've ever come off the way that you are making me sound here.
I LOVED this series and I'm so happy you're reviewing it! One correction: Jade City is NOT Fonda Lee's debut novel. She wrote a couple of YA Sci-Fi books before it. But this IS her fantasy debut.
I enjoyed the series quite a bit. Glad I finished it, as I was afraid you were going to finish it before me and I wouldn't be able to watch the spoiler videos like usual 😅
Oh it’s not a debut novel btw. Her previous books were YA martial arts sci fi. I thought about checking them out but decided they probably weren’t for me.
The first thing I see is Grogu on your shirt and you open up with the words "green boners" Solid imagery there LOL You are the best, very informative and entertaining per usual.
I understand what you're saying about part of the book being a tad slow and wondering if she was losing her way a bit. I don't think you're going to feel that way going forward. The character development is excellence and the story does not meander after this, IMO. It scratched a fantasy martial arts itch I didn't know I had and my 1980s and 1990s nostalgia was a bit high while reading this series. I also wanted to go watch all those samurai movies I used to see at my grandfather's. Heh.
i finished reading the series just a few months ago but watching this review is making me miss the kauls and wanna re read it already that series is just perfect
Great review! I’m really glad you enjoyed it! Spoiler greenbone saga would be great! That 40% shift was excellent! Looking forward to your thoughts on the rest of the triology. Thanks again for all you do!
Great review, except for some points. First: this is as hard magic system as it gets. Strict rules, consequences, grounded and predictable. It really reminds me of allomancy. You consume/wear a thing, use powers, more stuff=more power. But there are drawbacks. Plus all powers are clearly defined. And second: it's not really a female protagonist fantasy. I mean, sure, Shen probably is the protagonist. But others have almost as big of a spotlight as her. It feels more like multiple protagonists story rather than one major and some minor.
1) If you say so. Telling me they have magical capabilities without really showing them sounds about as soft a magic system as Lord of the Rings. 2) Show me where I said this. I don’t think I ever called this a Female Protagonist Fantasy. I said I assumed that the series was written for a different target demographic and I admitted I was wrong.
Love the review. This book and in fact series, which I finished in May, lived up to the hype imo. The characters is what sold me and boy does the series continue to grow like no other. Love the lighter fantasy but darker tone in this series..
@@akellerhouse83 Hello my fellow read along refugee. I don't think I've heard anyone say anything bad about the Greenbone Saga yet - I'm looking forward to it :)
I really struggled to finish this book, it just never clicked with me. My biggest problem was characters - I didn't like anyone and just never got invested. The second biggest problem was because I got bored with it, I was constantly lost as to what was happening and who was who. I really wanted to like this book, the way people talk about it sounds awesome!
You are great Mike! My mother died recently and it's dark and cloudy and my mind works at a way lower percentage... however, your posts are like little rays of light through this blackness and you inspire me to read, forget and then remember what i used to like until a little while ago. Thank you for being you, and keep up the good work! It matters!
I was unimpressed with this and the second book...they weren't bad, but just ok. I've long since decided I can't really waste too much time with "just ok" so I doubt I'll ever read the third book....my tbr is Waaaaayyy to long to continue on with something that is "just ok".
I was highly disappointed when I tried to read this book maybe about a year ago. It just didn't work for me. I got past the halfway point and I just did not care about the characters or the plot. I didn't hate it, it just bored me 🤷♂️
